News

Charles "Val" Clute (85)

Charles "Val" Clute, age 85, passed away on April 22, 2012 after a short illness. Born February 14, 1927 in Jacksonville, Illinois, Val grew up in Bellrose, New York. After serving in the Army, Val attended Alfred University in Alfred, New York where he earned his BA degree in Industrial Ceramic Design in 1951. He met his wife Nancy while at Alfred.

After several years as a Container Designer at Thatcher Glass Co. in Elmira, New York, Val went back to Alfred University to serve as the Alumni Director at his alma mater for two years. Val and his family moved to California in 1973 where he became the Director of Container Design at Madera Glass Co. He retired in 1984.

Former Madera County Judge Eric Wyatt Dies at Age 45

MADERA - Former Madera County Judge Eric Wyatt passed away Saturday at the age of 45 after a three year battle with brain cancer. Judge Wyatt was born in Visalia and raised in Salinas with his younger brother Keith. He graduated from Salinas High School and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis.

He earned his law degree from Santa Clara University and began his law practice in the early 1990’s with the firm of Mortimer and Oakley. He would later become a partner in that firm before leaving to begin his career with the Madera County District Attorney’s Office.

Madera County Superior Court Judge Eric C. Wyatt (45)

Madera County Superior Court Judge Eric C. Wyatt passed away on Saturday at the age of 45 after a 3 year battle with cancer.

Eric was born in Visalia and raised in Salinas, CA. He graduated from Salinas High School and obtained his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of California at Davis in 1988. He went on to earn his law degree from Santa Clara University and began working as an attorney in Madera in the early 1990s at the law office of Mortimer and Oakley where he became a partner.

Frank Gordon (78)

In the early morning of Saturday, March 31st, our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Frank Gordon passed away at the age of 78. Only one week ago, all thanks to Frank/Poppoo, the family enjoyed a fun limo ride to San Francisco for his wife's surprise birthday lunch. As the family piled into the limousine, they were full of joy and laughter looking forward to spending a great day together; and a great day it was.

Frank valued spending time with his family including supporting his daughters Michelle as a high school lettergirl and Janie on the swim team; watching his granddaughters Ashley and Stephanie play softball, and Alyson and Cory participate in 4-H and FFA events.

Lucille Galleano (82)

Lucille Galleano (82), a native and lifelong resident of Madera, CA passed away Thursday, March 29, 2012 at a Madera hospital. She was a graduate of Madera High School class of 1947 and was a retired worker from the Madera County Welfare Department.

During the course of her life, she was a member of St. Joachim Catholic Church and the St. Joachim's Young Ladies Institute, Madera County Taxpayers Association, and the Madera Republican Women Federation.

Jean Claire Kato: Long Time Madera Educator Dies at 60

Jean Claire Kato, born May 31, 1951 in Lodi, CA, died suddenly on Saturday March 24, 2012 in Madera. She loved to spend time with her family and friends, especially at her cabin in Shaver Lake, annual family vacations to Lake Tahoe, road trips around the United States, and traveling internationally with her friends in recent years, including trips to Greece, France, Italy, and China. In the last year she spent many days in San Francisco with her new grandson Robby.

Jean was a long time educator in Madera, working over 35 years as a counselor and social studies teacher at Madera High School. Jean received her bachelor's degree in history and teaching credential from California State University Chico. She later received her Masters in Counseling from California State University Fresno.

Christine Marie Silva-LeTourneau (44)

Christine Marie Silva-LeTourneau entered rest on March 19th, 2012 surrounded by her family and best friends, after battling complications from a pulmonary illness and severe stroke. Chris was born in Madera at Dearborn Hospital on August 30, 1967 and resided her entire life here in her hometown.

Chris attended Washington Elementary School for pre-school and Kindergarten, then attended and graduated from Eastin Arcola School when her family moved to Parkwood in1973. She enjoyed riding with her Dad in his big hay trucks and growing up around the shop with all the diesel repair and maintenance involved in the trucking business.